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Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: The Voyages of Zheng He

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the Chinese explorer, Zheng He, who lived from 1371 to 1433. He commanded massive fleets and made seven voyages, traveling to East Africa, India, and Arabia, making stops in other regions along the way. He even brought a...
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Voyage of Zheng He I

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from 1421: The Year the Chinese Discovered America? introduces the theory that the Chinese discovered America prior to Columbus.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Online Exhibition: The Cultures and History of the Americas

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine some of the rare books, maps, prints and other artifacts in this online exhibition. The exhibition explores several themes on the cultures and history of the Americas. The collection focuses on the period of pre-contact through...
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Website
University of Calgary

European Voyages of Exploration: 15th & 16th Centuries

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning website from the University of Calgary's History Department is both impressive and extensive. It focuses on Portuguese and Spanish expeditions of the 15th and 16th centuries (the sitemap provides a good outline of...
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Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Columbian Exchange

For Students 9th - 10th
Article and activity in which students about the Columbian Exchange answer questions for discussion and then analyze and prepare a solution to the contemporary problem resulting from the introduction of non-native deer to California's...
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Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Discovery and Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This American Memory site documents the discovery and exploration of the Americas with both manuscripts and published maps, many of which date from the European Age of Discovery. The site includes 22 map titles and descriptions, as well...
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Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Historical Journal Entries

For Students 5th - 7th Standards
In this lesson plan, writers will create a detailed journal entry from the point of view of a character who never actually existed. The journal entry will be for a day in history that the writer has researched and found interesting...
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Website
University of Calgary

European Voyages of Exploration: Portugal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an in-depth historical detail on the rise of Portuguese trade and exploration. Special attention is given to the history of the Portuguese monarchy and the conditions that led to the nation's rise in power. Further...
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Activity
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Renaissance Explorers

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the motives behind the exploration of the "new world" during the Renaissance. Discusses the trading that took place between the "new world" and Europe and various riches offered in Mexico and Latin America.
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Unit Plan
abcteach

Abcteach: People

For Teachers 1st - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Print worksheets from biographies and autobiographies from famous people such as Sally Ride, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Francis Scott Key, Alexander the Great and many more.
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Unit Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

American Journeys: Eyewitness Accounts Early American Exploration/settlement

For Students 9th - 10th
A collaborative project of the Wisconsin Historical Society and National History Day, this site contains over 18,000 pages of primary source, eyewitness accounts of North American exploration starting with the Vikings.
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Website
McGraw Hill

Mc Graw Hill Higher Education: Old World, New Worlds

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from McGraw-Hill Higher Education discusses European exploration in the late 1400s and 1500s and its impact on English colonization hundreds of years later.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1491 1607: Spanish Conquistadores and Colonial Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
The Spanish gained an early foothold in the colonies, quickly becoming the most powerful European power in the New World.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Portugal's Seafaring Expertise Launched the Age of Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
In the 15th century, a small kingdom with a population of approximately 1 million launched the era of maritime exploration that would transform the world. Portugal turned to the boundless Atlantic Ocean as its only outlet to the wider...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Large Arch Columbus Indiana

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructions on how to carve a small sculpture using plaster of Paris, a table knife and spoon. Also included is background information on the emergence of modern sculpture.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with Columbus and owned the Santa Maria. Looks at his voyages and the maps he produced as a cartographer.
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Handout
Other

Panama History: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
Article detailing the life of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with Christopher Columbus.
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Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: Native American Art

For Students 1st - 6th
History for Kids reference page provides an overview of Native American art which is representative of unique and diverse tribes throughout the Americas prior to Columbus.
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Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: North American History

For Students 2nd - 6th
History reference page for elementary students provides an overview of early American history from the age of Columbus through the Civil War and abolition of slavery. Includes links to teacher resources.
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Handout
New Advent

Catholic Encyclopedia: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with both Columbus and Vespucci. His famous chart of the world is the oldest representation of the New World. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia," is a historic reference source...
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: Amerigo Vespucci

For Students 5th - 8th
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born merchant and explorer who took part in early voyages to the New World on behalf of Spain around the late 15th century. By that time, the Vikings had established settlements in present-day North...
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Chicago World's Fair

For Students 9th - 10th
Chicago World's Fair was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of 1492 Christopher Columbus landing in the New World. It combined entertainment and educational exhibits with the latest inventions and attracted over 27 million visitors.
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Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: John Cabot Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Cabot, the second European to find North America (after Christopher Columbus).
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Renaissance for Kids: Age of Exploration and Discovery

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the Age of Exploration and Discovery of the European Renaissance including Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Portugal, and Spain.

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